[soc.religion.christian] The love of God, #1

emery@tc.fluke.COM (John Emery) (06/23/91)

"Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast,
 it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not
 easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight
 in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always
 trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails."
						(1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Some thoughts on the above verse:

Love, by its nature, is "other-centered".  While it is good to examine
one's own development and growth, this focus in excess leads one to
be "self-centered".  In being "other-centered", personal development
and growth occur without having to focus inwardly.

I especially like the last part that talks about how love views people:

*always protects- love is being willing to stand up for another and 
		  believe in his character although many may view
		  otherwise.  It's like the underdog in school, who
		  everyone liked to tease and believe the worst about.
		  Love would be the one person who stands up for the
		  person and says "I like this person and believe in
		  them".

*always trusts-   When a person's character is in question, love will
		  believe the good before entertaining the accusation
		  of evil until the proof is secured.  Many times
		  accusation is based on assumption.  Love is willing
		  to assume the best!

*always hopes-	  We all have shortcommings.  Love looks past the short-
		  commings, and lives in hope that change will occur.
		  Ever hear the phrase "They will always be like that,
		  they will never change".  Love retains the hope that
		  one will change for better and doesn't resign one to
		  "hopeless."

*always perseveres-
		  Love endures the pain that another inflicts when it
		  benefits the other person.  The mother who continually
		  shows love to the rebellious child is one who 
		  perseveres.  The one who answers back with kindness
		  and respect to the other who speaks words of abuse,
		  accusation, and cruelty shows the side of love called
		  perseverence.  There is a limit as to how much one is
		  to take, but love goes to the limit.

*never fails-	  The love that one shows will always have positive
		  effects and not return in void.  The love that one
		  shows is not in vain.  

The Bible says that God is love.  He is all of these.  It is His love
poured out upon His creation that gives the power to share this love.
God is patient, God is kind.  God does not envy, boast, nor is proud.
He is not rude, always seeks after our good; He is not easily angered
and gives us the way for our sins to be forgiven.  He does not delight
in evil, but rejoices in the truth.  God always protects, trusts, hopes,
perseveres.  God never fails.  God is love!

With love,

John Emery
emery@tc.fluke.COM